Live Healthy 2020
The team at Comprehensive Cancer Centers encourages everyone to get active and make lifestyle changes to reduce health risks, but we also know it can be hard to make these kinds of lifestyle changes and ensure the changes stick. With that in mind, the Comprehensive team recommends that you don’t wait to start at the turn of the New Year in January but start healthy living right now in December.
By starting a healthy lifestyle regimen in December, you’ll be ahead of the curve. The changes you make may also encourage you to make better decisions during the holiday season, such as adding in a few healthy recipes for a great home-cooked meal or making better selections when dining out. Starting early before a hard deadline leads to instant payoffs. You can do things a little differently now without feeling like you need to rely on the excuse that comes from thinking you can just “get healthy” after the holidays.
It’s also important to note that making lifestyle changes is best accomplished by focusing on incremental progress and wins, rather than making drastic changes to your entire life. This means easing into being more active, making slightly better choices with food, and practicing other self-care activities that encourage improved mental health. Start now and give yourself some freedom to improve a little each week.
Here are some ideas to get you started on getting healthy right now before the New Year:
- Take a Walk – Going out to dinner or doing some holiday shopping? Park your car farther away than you normally would and walk the extra distance. When you get inside the mall, take a few extra laps before making a purchase to get some extra exercise. If you eat a big meal, take a walk when you get home, before you go out, or first thing in the morning.
- Chew Slowly & Drink Water – For many of us, the holidays are all about great food. With that in mind, be mindful of eating too quickly. Chew and savor your food to let your brain catch up with your stomach so you don’t feel hungry after eating your first helping. Also, make sure to have some water before you eat (rather than chips and other available snacks) so you don’t feel too hungry before sitting down. Remember, too, that drinking water expands the stomach during meals, so once you sit down, go easy on drinks.
- Think Twice About Seconds – It’s easy to indulge with all the great food available during the holidays. You can make that indulgence more rewarding by making better decisions if you want to show your appreciation to the chef. When compelled to have seconds, consider going for options such as vegetables.
- Join a Gym Now – If you’re thinking about adding exercise at a local gym to your routine, get signed up now. The wait will be shorter, and if you want to use a trainer — most gyms offer free one-time consultations — that will be more convenient to start now compared to January.
- Be Nice to Yourself – Again, focus on making small changes that you can build on over time. Walked for 10 minutes three days this week? Add an extra day or an extra five minutes. Give yourself praise for making moves to live a healthier life while also focusing on the mental aspect of making changes. Take stock of what you’ve accomplished and give yourself credit.
- Another helpful aspect of starting to make better lifestyle choices in December is the confidence and momentum you’ll build by enduring the temptations of the holiday season. Even if you just make a few small changes, you can continue in the New Year while feeling good about yourself for making progress.
Comprehensive Cancer Centers Can Help
The physicians at Comprehensive Cancer Centers provide a variety of treatment options for cancer, blood disorders as well as lung disease and sleep disorders. Clinical research may also be an option for some. Visit our website for a complete list of clinical research studies currently being conducted at Comprehensive Cancer Centers. To schedule an appointment with the team at Comprehensive, please call 702-952-3350.
The content is this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
